Weekly sustainable agriculture news and resources gleaned from the Internet by NCAT staff for the ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Web site. The Weekly Harvest Newsletter is also available online.

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Project to Assist Producers With Grant WritingThe Michael Fields Agricultural Institute recently announced a new project funded through USDA's Risk Management Agency. The Underserved Producer Grantwriting Assistance Project will pay experienced grantwriters to assist producers in submitting proposals to federal agencies to support their work. The project places priority on serving socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Currently, the project will only operate in the South, West, and Midwest regions.

Organic Fraud Protection Program UnderwayThe National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) announced its partnering with Hanover Co-op Food Stores, PCC Natural Markets and Unified Grocers on a pilot program exploring the implementation of the organic industry’s first system-wide, retailer-based organic fraud detection and prevention program. NCGA has contracted with the International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS) to determine appropriate methods retailers could undertake to limit the incidence of fraudulently traded organic products and to increase the chances of early detection when it takes place within the retail supply chain. Based on the pilot’s findings, NCGA and IOAS plan to develop a recommended retailer-based fraud prevention program, offering it to not only NCGA's members but all organic retailers nationwide and throughout the world as early as mid-2008.

National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative Unveils Draft GuidelinesThe National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative is a producer-led coalition that includes members from every sector of the dairy industry. On October 4, 2007 at World Dairy Expo, the coalition introduced the first draft of proposed principles and guidelines intended to provide a uniform umbrella of assurance that the industry is meeting its ethical obligation for dairy animal well-being. Over the next nine months, dairy producers will have an opportunity to review the draft principles and guidelines and provide their input via their co-op or industry association. Draft principles and guidelines are available for download.

Going Organic Project Announces Workshop ScheduleThe California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation’s Going Organic project is launching its fall and winter season October 23. The schedule is packed with over twenty educational trainings throughout California, on organic crop and livestock production. Going Organic provides a network of support for farmers interested in transitioning to organic by addressing systemic, economic, and technical barriers to organic conversion.

Software Calculates Value of Distillers GrainsA computer software program developed by Ohio State University to help producers determine how cost-effective feeds are can now be used to find the nutritional and economic value of distillers grains, reports Ohio Ag Connection. SESAME is a Windows-based program estimates the break-even prices of up to 140 types of feedstuffs based on their nutrient content, including metabolizable energy (ME), rumen degradable protein (RDP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), according to current market prices. The software can now be used on distillers grains that are an ethanol production byproduct. The software can be downloaded online and used for a seven-day evaluation period before purchase.

Oklahoma Farm Diversification GrantsOklahoma Farm Diversification Grants (PDF/22.5KB) are
available to anyone who is currently involved in farming or ranching and
would like to diversify their family farming operation. Projects must be
for non-traditional crops or livestock, on-farm processing of
agricultural commodities or initiating agritourism ventures. Projects
cannot be an extension or expansion of existing operations and must show
the potential to create additional income for the farm unit. Awards of
up to $5,000 are granted.Proposals are due January 1, 2008.

North American Wetlands Conservation Council Small GrantsThe Small Grants Program is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. These projects must involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds. Grant requests may not exceed $75,000. A total of $2 million has been approved to support projects in FY 2007.Proposals are due November 30, 2007.

Kentucky Beginning Farmer Loan ProgramThe Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation has announced the availability of a new lending program that will be administered through lenders with offices in Kentucky. This program has been designed to assist beginning farmers in formulating a business plan, securing needed expertise, and receiving the capital to prepare their farming operation for a successful future.Proposals are due October 19, 2007.

Sustainable Agriculture ConferenceNovember 9-11, 2007
Durham, North Carolina
The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's 22nd annual conference focuses this year on "The Changing Face of Local Food." The conference offers farm tours, numerous concurrent workshops on vegetable and livestock production and farm business topics, a youth program, exhibits, and more.

Real Food Summit: Students Mobilizing for Just and Sustainable FoodNovember 3-4, 2007
New Haven, Connecticut
Join students and staff at The Food Project in Boston, the Brown Sustainable Food Initiative, and the Yale Sustainable Food Project for the first Real Food Summit, where students from across the Northeast will come together to galvanize a national movement around food on college campuses. The Summit will kick off the Real Food Challenge, a collaborative network that will forge a common vision and bond between students working on many different issues all across the region, all having to do with "real food"—food that truly nourishes people, communities, and the land.

Kentucky Small Farmers ConferenceNovember 13-15, 2007
Frankfort, Kentucky
Small Kentucky farmers can get help with estate planning, hear success stories from their fellow farmers, tour central Kentucky points of interest and more. Participants will tour the University of Kentucky Animal Diagnostic Laboratory and animal science farm in Lexington and the Purnell’s Sausage plant. Concurrent break-out sessions are scheduled for the afternoon.

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